Adhesive labels with structural alignment means



April 25, 1967 HEUSER 3,315,387

ADHESIVE LABELS WITH STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT MEANS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ELLIOTT G. HEUSER By ZVMKM ATTORNEY A ril 25, 1967 E. e. HEUSER 3,315,387

ADHESIVE LABELS WITH STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT MEANS Filed 001,. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ELLIOTT G. HEUSER ATTORNEY United States Patent' Ofifice amass? Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,387 ADHESIVE LABELS WITH STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT MEANS Elliott G. Heuser, Mequon, Wis., assignor to W. H. Brady Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,916 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-2) This invention relates to adhesive labels that include structural means which facilitate proper relative alignment of individual labels in a sequence or group of labels applied to an object. A unique method for applying some forms of the labels of this invention is also provided.

In many instances in which adhesive labels are afilxed to an object, it is desired to apply a group of labels in a selected sequence and in such a manner that the individual labels in the group are in proper alignment with each other. For example, it may be desired to form a sequence of numbers from several individual labels each having one number, or form a name or word from a group of labels each having one letter, or to combine several labels having words into a group. One of the problems of using labels in this fashion is that of securing proper alignment of each label in the group with respect to the other; if a name or word is formed from a group of individual labels having letters, it can be difiicult to ensure that each letter is properly spaced vertically and horizontally with respect to its neighbors. Another problem is that it is often desired to be able to move each label slightly in order to get it into its proper position, but this is not possible with many known label structures. These problems can be especially acute in connection with pressure sensitive adhesive labels.

Some of the principal objects of this invention are to provide a new label structure for use in labelling objects; to provide labels which include structural means for securing proper alignment between individual labels in a group of labels, and to provide labels, particularly pressure sensitive labels, which can permit slight movement of the label after it is placed in an approximate position in order to get it into its final selected position. Among the more specific objects of this invention are to provide the particular label structures disclosed herein for carrying out the objectives of this invention, and to devise thicknesses for most advantageously utilizing labels incorporating the present invention; other specific objects will become apparent as the description unfolds.

Generally, this invention provides labels having one or more notches recessed in one marginal portion and one or more tabs projecting from another, wherein the tabs of one label are to be engaged with the notches of a neighboring label when it is desired to align two or more labels to form a combined legend on an object. In one of the forms shown herein, a multiple-layer pressure sensitive label including a backing is formed with all its layers coextensive in size and with the label-legend die cut so as to be separable from the rest of the label for application to an object. In a second form, only the label itself is carried on a linear or backing member which has the alignment structural means. A third form is shown which is particularly adapted for labels that should be spaced close together, such as small letters and numerals one inch or less in height.

For illustrative purposes, several specific forms in which this invention may be embodied are set forth in the ensuing description which is made with reference to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a label according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the label of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the figure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear of the label of FIG. 1 showing it being prepared for applying to an obect;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the front of the label of FIG. 1 as it is being applied to an object;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view showingafifilal stage of the application of the label to an object;

FIG. 7 illustrates a group of labels of the same construction as that of FIG. 1 in the process of being applied to an object;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a second label according to this invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the label of FIG. 8 taken along the plane of line 9-9 looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspectiveview showing labels of the construction of FIG. 8 during an intermediate stage of their application to an object;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the labels in FIG. 10 near the final stages of the labelling operation; and 7 FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a third label according to this invention.

Insofar as posisble, the same reference numerals refer to the same same or closely similar structural elements in the several embodiments of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-12. In the following description and in the claims, various details of structure and method will be identified by specific names, denoting form or position for example, for convenience and clarity of description, but such names are intended to be construed as generic as possible in their application to the labels of this invention- FIGURES J-7 FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a label 1 embodying the present invention which includes a first layer 2, a layer 3 of pressure sensitive adhesive firmly joined to one surface of the first layer, and a backing 4 releasably secured to the surface of the adhesive layer 3 opposite from the first layer. The three layers of the label are cut through along a out line 5 which defines a label legend 6, herein shown as the numeral 7, the extension of the cut line 5 through all three layers of the label being best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. The portion of the first layer 2 outside of the cut line 5 is indicated as portion 2a in the drawings and will constitute a waste portion after the label legend 6 has been applied to an object as is hereinafter described. Referring specifically now to FIGS. 2 and 6, the backing 4 is separated into upper portion 4a and lower portion 41) by a cut line 8 which extends only through the backing 4 from edge to edge thereof. The parts of the two portions of the backing 4 inside the out line 5 are indicated by the reference numerals 4c and 4 The first layer 2 can be of any film or sheet material of the type generally useful for labels, including plastic films of thermoplastic polymeric material (such as vinyl films comprising homopolymers of vinyl chloride, vinylidine chloride, vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate and copolymers which include a major portion of the foregoing monomers, polyester films such as polyethylene terephthalate [Mylar], polyolefin films, nylon films, acetate films, etc.), paper, metallic foil and the like.

The pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 is to be a layer of normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive which adheres by pressure alone and is more cohesive than adhesive, many types of which are well known in the art and need not be described in detail here. Typical suitable pressure sensitive adhesives include a rubbery polymeric material compound with suitable compatible resinous tackifiers and dispersed in an appropriate solvent. Other ingredients such as anti-oxidants, light stabilizers, color pigments, softening agents, curing agents, stiffening agents, fillers, etc. may be included in the pressure sensitive adhesive to impart or modify particular properties. Typically useful rubbery polymeric materials include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, latex crepe rubber, rubbery synthetic polymers and copolymers, and the like. Commonly used tackifiers include rosin esters such as ester gum, wood rosin, coumaroneindene resins, terpene resins, petroleum hydrocarbon resins, and the like. Aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents are most often used with such adhesives. If desired, a primer coating can be applied to the underside of the first layer to improve the bonding of the adhesive layer thereto. The adhesive layer is to be firmly bonded to the first layer so that it will not separate from it during the normal use of the label.

The backing 4 is to have a low adhesion to the pressure sensitive adhesive layer so that the backing can be removed from the adhesive layer, or portions thereof, when it is desired to apply the label to an object and there should be no delamination of the pressure sensitive adhesive from the first layer when the backing is so removed. The backing layer can be of fibrous material such as paper or non-fibrous material such as polymeric films and can be coated or impregnated with a suitable release agent in order that the backing can be removed without the aforesaid delamination of the adhesive, there being a number of suitable release agents, e.g. a silicone or silicone rubber coating, commonly known to the art. The term releasably joined as used herein and in the claims with reference to the bond between the backing and pressure sensitive adhesive layer is meant to denote this property.

In accordance with this invention, the label 1 is constructed to include a tab 9 projecting from one marginal edge portion and a notch 10 recessed in an opposite marginal edge portion. While the tab and notch are to have the same configuration, they can be of other forms besides the triangular shape shown herein, such as rectangular, arcuate, etc. The purpose of the tab and notch structures is to enable one label 1 to be properly aligned with another label 1 when the labels are applied to an object as described below.

When it is desired to apply the label 1 to an object, the first step, shown in FIG. 4, is to remove the portions 40 and 4d of the backing 4 which are within the cut line and underlie the label legend 6. These two portions are easiest to remove by starting to peel them away at their ends along the cut line 8, bending the label if necessary to slightly raise their ends to enable them to be grasped and removed by hand. The removal of these two portions of the backing 4 exposes that part of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 which is underneath the label legend 6. After portions 40 and 4d of the liner have been removed, turning now to FIG. 5, the label 1 is pressed against an object 11 which is to be labelled so that the uncovered portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 underneath the label legend 6 becomes adhesively joined to the object 11.

Turning now to FIG. 7, after a first label 1 is afiixed to the object in the preceding fashion, a second label 1a, shown as bearing the numeral 4 as its legend 6, is prepared with its liner portions underneath the legend removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive and then brought into position alongside the first label 1 so that its notch a engages the tab 9 of the first label. After the notch on the second label 1 is properly mated with the tab of the first label 1, the second label .is pressed in place so that its legend 6 becomes adhesively joined to the object. Additional labels as shown in FIG. 7 can be brought alongside the others to form any desired sequence of legends and positioned and pressed into place in the described manner. When a notch or tab on one label is properly mated with the notch or tab, as the case may be, of its adjacent label or labels, each label will be aligned with its neighbor. This alignment will include both the proper vertical spacing and proper horizontal spacing between the individual labels.

After the labels in the group have been thusly arranged, the excess portion of each label is removed as shown in FIG. 6. Since that part of each first layer in the labels, exclusive of each legend 6, has portions of the backing 4 covering the pressure sensitive adhesive exterior of the cut line defining the legend, it will not become adhered to the object during the preceding labelling operation. When the excess label is removed, which excess will comprise the portion 2a of the first layer 2 and those parts of the pressure sensitive adhesive and backing layers immediately thereunder, only the legend 6 remains affixed to the object. All the legends in the sequence will then be properly aligned with each other in the labelled object.

:It has been discovered that if the first layer 2 is at least about ten mils thick, several useful results are attained for the label 1. With this thickness, the legend 6 is nicely retained within the rest of the label even though the out line 5 extends through all layers of the label, and

the flow back of the pres-sure sensitive adhesive along all or part of the out line 5 aids in retaining the legend 6 in such position until it is desired to remove the waste portion of the label. While the ten mil thickness gives particularly useful results, the label 1 can be made in other thicknesses, either less than or greater than ten mils, and satisfactory results have been obtained with first layers as thin as four mils.

FIGURES 8-11 FIGS. 8-11 illustrate another label incorporating the principles of this invention. These drawings show a label 15 which includes a first layer 2, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 3 firmly secured to one surface thereof, and a backing 4 releasablysecured to the surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer opposite from the first layer. In this embodiment, the first layer 2 comprises in its entirety the legend which is ultimately to be applied to an object. In contrast, the first layer 2 of the label 1 was divided into a legend 6 and a waste portion 2a by out line 5 and the waste portion was discarded after completion of the labelling operation. The backing 4 of label 15 is divided into two portions, 4a and 4b, by cut line 8 which extends through the backing. Label 15 is shown with two tabs 9 projecting from one edge and two notches 10 recessed in an opposite edge; the label 1 may also have a plurality of such notches and tabs, if desired, and more than two can be included on each side of the labels.

When the label 15 is to be applied to an object, the upper portion 4a of the backing is removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive underneath that part of the first layer 2 which was covered thereby. Referring now to FIG. 10, this uncovered portion of the first layer is pressed into place on an object 11 to become adhesively joined thereto, the lower portion 4b of the backing remaining joined to the pressure sensitive adhesive covering the balance of the first layer. A second label 15a, also having the upper portion 4a of its backing removed, is then brought alongside the first label 15 and positioned to have its tabs 9a engaged with the notches 10 of the label 15; after being properly positioned, the upper portion of the label 15a (having its pressure sensitive adhesive exposed) is pressed to become adhesively applied to the object 11. Label 15b and such other additional labels as may be desired, can then be brought into position in the specified manner to develop the particular sequence of labels being applied.

After a group of labels 15 have been placed in position as shown in FIG. 10, the lower portion 4b of each backing is removed as indicated in FIG. 11. The lower portion 4b of label 15b is shown as remaining in its original position; part of the label 15a has been lifted and the lower portion 4b of its backing is shown in the process of being peeled away from the rest of the first layer 2; after this operation, the label will be in the condition shown with respect to label 15 wherein only the first layer remains adhesively joined to the object, the balance of the label having been discarded.

One of the useful results obtained in the label construction FIGS. 811 is in connection with numbers or letters, or other legends, that could be applied upside down. Thus on numbers like 0, 8, 6 and 9, it is possible to remove the wrong portion of the backing first and place the letter in position upside down. The configuration shown in these drawings eliminates this possibility, or greatly reduces it, by forming the alignment tabs and notches in the lower half of the backing layer 4 and with suitable instructions, the labels will be placed with the legends in the proper attitude.

FIGURE 12 FIG. 12 illustrates a third form of label incorporating the present invention, comprising a label 20 which is very close in structure to label 15 except for the positioning of the tab 9 and notch 10. In the label 20, the tab 9 and notch 10 are each formed near the bottom of the label so as to be under the first layer 2, the tab and notch being defined in the lower portion 4 b of the backing 4. The label is to be applied to an object in the same manner as the label 15. The label construction 20 is especially useful in connection with small letters, numerals or other legends, particularly those which are one inch or less high. Legends of this size should be spaced only a short horizontal distance apart when forming a sequence therefrom, and for this purpose the tab and notch structures are placed underneath the legend portion, or first layer, so that they will not interfere with the sidewise spacing of the label. Thus the label 20 can be spaced closer to a neighboring label 20 than the previous forms of this invention illustrated herein.

There has thus been disclosed several forms of label constructions suitable for accomplising the objects of this invention, which labels generally include a projecting member extending from one marginal portion, shown herein as a tab, and a recessed area defined in an opposite marginal portion, shown herein as a notch, Which enables one label to be positioned in alignment with another label incorporating the same structural features. The tabs and notches can have various configurations other than those specifically shown herein, although on any particular label they should have the same outline so as to properly mate with one another. Although the notches and tabs are illustrated in the disclosed embodiments as being formed in an intermediate part of the marginal portions of the labels, they could also be formed at a corner of the label. In another modification a label similar to that of FIGS. 1-7 can be made With the cut line defining the legend extending only through the first layer. Those skilled in the label art may be able to make other modifications of the illustrated examples of this invention and devise other specific structures for incorporating its principles, and it is to be understood that it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an adhesive label comprising a first layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering one side of the first layer, and a backing releasably joined to the adhesive layer on the opposite side thereof from the first layer, said backing being removable from the adhesive layer without separating the adhesive layer from the first layer and said first layer including a legend which is to be adhesively affixed to an object; the combination wherein said label includes 1) at least one tab projecting from a marginal portion of the label, and (2) at least one notch defined in an opposite marginal portion, whereby the label can be aligned with a second label of the same construction upon interengagement of a tab of one label with a notch of the other; and wherein (3) the entire first layer forms the legend which is to be adhesively joined to an object and the legend can be adhered to an object when the backing under the legend is removed to uncover the pressure sensitive adhesive layer underneath the legend.

2. A label according to claim 1 in which the backing comprises two adjacent portions, and the notches and tabs are defined in one of said portions.

3. A label according to claim 1 in which the first layer has top and bottom ends which are spaced from the adjacent ends of the backing, and the tabs and notches are formed in marginal portions of the backing between an end of the first layer and an adjacent end of the backing.

4. In an adhesive label comprising a first layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering one side of the first layer, and a backing releasably joined to the adhesive layer on the opposite side thereof from the first layer, said backing being adapted for removal from the adhesive layer without separating the adhesive layer from the first layer and said first layer including a legend which is to be adhesively affixed to an object; the combination wherein said label includes:

( 1) at least one tab projecting from a marginal portion of the label,

(2) at least one notch defined in an opposite marginal portion,

(3) a cut line which extends through each layer in the label and divides the first layer into said legend and a waste portion, and

(4) the backing comprising two adjacent portions, with the notches and tabs defined in one of said portions,

whereby the label can be aligned with a second label of the same construction upon interengagement of a tab of one label with a notch of the other and the label can be adhered to an object when the backing under the legend is removed to uncover the pressure sensitive adhesive layer underneath the legend.

5. In an adhesive label comprising a first layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering one side of the first layer, and a backing releasably joined to the adhesive layer on the opposite side thereof from the first layer, said backing being adapted for removal from the adhesive layer without separating the adhesive layer from the first layer and said first layer including a legend which is to be adhesively alfixed to an object; the combination wherein said label includes:

( 1) at least one tab projecting from a marginal portion of the label,

(2) at least one notch defined in an opposite marginal portion, 7

(3) a cut line which extends through each layer in the label and divides the first layer into said legend and a waste portion, and

(4) the first layer is at least about 10 mils thick,

whereby the label can be aligned with a second label of the same construction upon interengagement of a tab of one label with a notch of the other and the label can be adhered to an object when the backing under the legend is removed to uncover the pressure sensitive adhesive layer underneath the legend.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,666 9/1940 Burke 402 2,953,380 9/1960 Hassenbach 3573 3,226,862 1/ 1966 Gabruk 40-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 478,296 1/ 193 8 Great Britain. 767,299 1/1957 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ADHESIVE LABEL COMPRISING A FIRST LAYER, A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE LAYER COVERING ONE SIDE OF THE FIRST LAYER, AND A BACKING RELEASABLY JOINED TO THE ADHESIVE LAYER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF FROM THE FIRST LAYER, SAID BACKING BEING REMOVABLE FROM THE ADHESIVE LAYER WITHOUT SEPARATING THE ADHESIVE LAYER FROM THE FIRST LAYER AND SAID FIRST LAYER INCLUDING A LEGEND WHICH IS TO BE ADHESIVELY AFFIXED TO AN OBJECT; THE COMBINATION WHEREIN SAID LABEL INCLUDES (1) AT LEAST ONE TAB PROJECTING FROM A MARGINAL PORTION OF THE LABEL, AND (2) AT LEAST ONE NOTCH DEFINED IN AN OPPOSITE MARGINAL PORTION, WHEREBY THE LABEL CAN BE ALIGNED WITH A SECOND LABEL OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION UPON INTERENGAGEMENT OF A TAB OF ONE LABEL WITH A NOTCH OF THE OTHER; AND WHEREIN (3) THE ENTIRE FIRST LAYER FORMS THE LEGEND WHICH IS TO BE ADHESIVELY JOINED TO AN OBJECT AND THE LEGEND CAN BE ADHERED TO AN OBJECT WHEN THE BACKING UNDER THE LEGEND IS REMOVED TO UNCOVER THE PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE LAYER UNDERNEATH THE LEGEND. 